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In our “Small-Space Hacks” series, you’ll find stylish solutions for tiny spaces as well as tricky areas that often get overlooked in the home. Not your typical DIY projects, these “hacks” involve simply rethinking furniture with a little ingenuity to create spaces that enhance your daily life.

This week we show you great small entryway ideas that can make the most of a pint-sized space. Here are our 5 of our favorite tricks to turn your entryway into a welcoming checkpoint and functional storage spot.

Optimize Your Space With These 5 Small Entryway Ideas

1. If you need extra storage…

Center your entry with a dresser with deep drawers for increased storage options. This is a great way to deal with storage overflow from other areas in your home where square footage is at a premium. Stash winter coats, extra pillows and big throws in the lower compartments and use the dresser’s upper storage for more practical daily items, such as books, scarves, hats, and even takeout menus.

You can easily round out the look of the overall space by adding personal art and objects along with a stylish table lamp on the dresser surface. And don’t underestimate the beauty of umbrella stands, which can double as sculptural accents in an otherwise utilitarian space.

Another idea? If you’re really pressed for space, consider the storage possibilities of a nightstand. One with drawers can provide the perfect mini catchall spot.

2. If you’re (always) on the go…

A space-saving console makes for a convenient catchall for holding your wallet, car keys, and mail. Choose a console with drawers and cubbies specifically for mail that’s important; junk mail can go into baskets squirreled away underneath the console. In a small space, this can keep paper clutter from trickling into the rest of your home.

Treat the surface of the console as a vanity with a mirror and table lamp, and keep frequently worn jewelry and other accessories (phone chargers, headphones) neatly stowed away. This will create a functional spot that gathers all your everyday essentials as you dash out (or in) the door.

3. If you have guests over often…

Your small entry should combine both function and style for an instantly welcoming spot. And just because you’re tight on space doesn’t mean you can’t go big with multiple pieces of stylish furnishings.

Look for storage pieces that have slim silhouettes as well as open-shelving constructions. A tall bookshelf can provide vertical storage that also helps to draw attention away from the small size of your entry, while a slim glass console will further lend a spacious look and feel.

4. If you have high-energy kids…

There’s no furniture piece more practical than a storage bench for containing all the little things that can easily pile up in a small home, be it shoes, jackets, or toys.

Opt for a storage bench with a lid or one with cubbies, and arrange the space to mimic a mudroom; even in a small entry, you can set up hooks and baskets that give everything a place. The best part about a storage bench is that it’s also the perfect perch for your little ones to put on their shoes.

5. If you have (very) little space…

Keep your entry minimal by pulling in a pair of dining chairs. They make for a much simpler alternative to storage pieces if you just need a place to put down your bag or to slip on shoes before you run out the door.

The best part is that chairs are versatile and movable, you can pull them into other areas of your home if needed. Consider using chairs that match those in your dining area so that they can easily pinch-hit as extra seating for guests.

Need help bringing your small entryway ideas to life?

An elegant space, Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1962 Blue Room is as much a piece of history as an icon of interior design.

If you love the look of American traditional interiors, or if you want to imbue your space with some Kennedy-esque elegance, read on to learn how you can style your home like Jacqueline Kennedy’s Blue Room.

How to get Jacqueline Kennedy’s Blue Room look:

1. Start with a Traditional Base

Jacqueline began her work in the Blue Room with an old and worn console table. This was the first authentic piece of furniture she restored for the project.

Recreate the look with a piece that has the same traditional elements. We opted for the fluted legs and simple carved wood of the Antiqued Gustavian Console (Wisteria).

Jacqueline wanted to use only authentic period pieces in her renovations. Alongside the console table, she placed blue and gold chairs that were originally ordered by President Monroe for the White House in 1818.

We couldn’t find any 19th century chairs at a reasonable price, so we looked for pieces that evoked the same classic formal elegance. TheBixby Chair (Anthropologie) feels stately, while the velvet gives it a modern edge.

2. Create Your Color Palette

The pairing of cream and blue was Jackie’s color palette of choice for the Blue Room. She covered her walls in cream satin and used blue silk for the window treatments.

You can update the look by choosing a modern wallpaper with the same colors. We love Anthropologie’s For The Trees Wallpaper in stone.

Bring the blue with some statement drapes. We picked indigo to give our space a little drama. Try the Belgian Textured Linen Drapery from Restoration Hardware.

3. Add Elegant Accessories

Gold accents are the final piece of the puzzle. These will give your space a touch of presidential grandeur.

Chose updated or whimsical pieces to keep the look from feeling overly stuffy. We can’t keep our eyes off that Golden Deer Mirror from Wisteria.

Check out a few of our interior projects inspired by other leading ladies.

Rather than honing in on a specific type or style of room, today we are offering up some knowledge on how to incorporate your style into a specific part of your home. The console table, whether you place it in your entryway, in your living room, or behind your sofa, is the perfect place to display a few of your favorite things!

To show you some tips and tricks, we picked one console table and three of our favorite styles – Hollywood Glam, Mid Century Modern, and Eclectic – and set to work designing a look for each. For our base, we chose west elm’s Terrace Console. Open and airy, this option works well in a variety of spaces and with many styles. Let’s get to styling…

Hollywood Glam Console Style

A style bubbling with personality, Hollywood Glam encapsulates everything bold and dramatic. Hollywood Glam is all about the statement pieces, so we opted for colors, materials, and patterns that were unique and luxurious.

Stylist Tip: To create a scene with just the right amount of over-the-top, keep the styling formal and symmetrical.

Mid-Century Modern Console Style

A style inspired by mid-twentieth-century design, the Mid Century Modern aesthetic champions bold colors, graphic patterns, and organic forms. To make our glass and gold console work, we opted for accent pieces with a Mid-Century vibe.

Geometry and organic shapes/materials are your friends. The Moller Model 55 Armchair and Eames Stool (Design Within Reach) are both iconic pieces of Mid Century Modern design. We then layered in accent pieces with bold colors and graphic designs.

Eclectic Console Style

Eclectic is a style that enjoys breaking the rules. Comprised of an informal mix of furnishings and decor from a wide variety of styles, the eclectic interior feels organic and unexpected.

For this scene we were striving for a more bohemian vibe, and picked pieces with lots of texture and an earthy color palette. To underscore the eclectic nature of the space, we worked in a few tricks for creating an unexpected vibe.

Stylist Tip: To enhance your eclectic style, try pulling your console away from the wall and hanging a large tapestry behind it, or prop a statement piece of art on the floor next to it.